1lendar, he was ſent for to Rome from the remoteſt parts of
Germany, for to aſſiſt in this Reformation, which for that time
was left imperfect, onely becauſe as then the true meaſure of
the Year and Lunar Moneth was not exactly known: whereupon
it was given him in charge by the Biſhop of Sempronia, at that
time Super-intendent in that Affair, to ſearch with reiterated
ſtudies and pains for greater light and certainty, touching thoſe
Cœleſtial Motions. Upon which, with a Labour truly Atlantick
and with his admirable Wit, ſetting himſelf again to that Study,
he made ſuch a progreſs in theſe Sciences, and reduced the
knowledge of the Cœleſtial Motions to ſuch exactneſſe, that he
gained the title of an Excellent Aſtronomer. And, according
unto his Doctrine, not only the Calendar hath been ſince regu
lated, but the Tables of all the Motions of the Planets have al
ſo been calculated: and having reduced the ſaid Doctrine into
ſix Books, he publiſhed them to the World at the inſtance of
the Cardinal of Capua, and of the Biſhop of Culma. And in
regard that he had re-aſſumed this ſo laborious an enterprize by
the order of The Pope; he dedicated his Book De Revolutioni
bus Cœleſtibus to His Succeſſour, namely Paul III. which, being
then alſo Printed, hath been received by The Holy Church, and
read and ſtudied by all the World, without any the leaſt um
brage of ſcruple that hath ever been conceived at his Doctrine;
The which, whilſt it is now proved by manifeſt Experiments and
neceſſary Demonſtrations to have been well grounded, there
want not perſons that, though they never ſaw that ſame Book in
tercept the reward of thoſe many Labours to its Authour, by
cauſing him to be cenſured and pronounced an Heretick; and
this, only to ſatisfie a particular diſpleaſure conceived, without
any cauſe, againſt another man, that hath no other intereſt in
Copernicus, but only as he is an approver of his Doctrine.
Germany, for to aſſiſt in this Reformation, which for that time
was left imperfect, onely becauſe as then the true meaſure of
the Year and Lunar Moneth was not exactly known: whereupon
it was given him in charge by the Biſhop of Sempronia, at that
time Super-intendent in that Affair, to ſearch with reiterated
ſtudies and pains for greater light and certainty, touching thoſe
Cœleſtial Motions. Upon which, with a Labour truly Atlantick
and with his admirable Wit, ſetting himſelf again to that Study,
he made ſuch a progreſs in theſe Sciences, and reduced the
knowledge of the Cœleſtial Motions to ſuch exactneſſe, that he
gained the title of an Excellent Aſtronomer. And, according
unto his Doctrine, not only the Calendar hath been ſince regu
lated, but the Tables of all the Motions of the Planets have al
ſo been calculated: and having reduced the ſaid Doctrine into
ſix Books, he publiſhed them to the World at the inſtance of
the Cardinal of Capua, and of the Biſhop of Culma. And in
regard that he had re-aſſumed this ſo laborious an enterprize by
the order of The Pope; he dedicated his Book De Revolutioni
bus Cœleſtibus to His Succeſſour, namely Paul III. which, being
then alſo Printed, hath been received by The Holy Church, and
read and ſtudied by all the World, without any the leaſt um
brage of ſcruple that hath ever been conceived at his Doctrine;
The which, whilſt it is now proved by manifeſt Experiments and
neceſſary Demonſtrations to have been well grounded, there
want not perſons that, though they never ſaw that ſame Book in
tercept the reward of thoſe many Labours to its Authour, by
cauſing him to be cenſured and pronounced an Heretick; and
this, only to ſatisfie a particular diſpleaſure conceived, without
any cauſe, againſt another man, that hath no other intereſt in
Copernicus, but only as he is an approver of his Doctrine.
Now in regard of theſe falſe aſperſions, which they ſo unjuſtly
ſeek to throw upon me, I have thought it neceſſary for my juſti
fication before the World (of whoſe judgment in matters of
Religion and Reputation I ought to make great eſteem) to
diſcourſe concerning thoſe Particulars, which theſe men produce
to ſcandalize and ſubvert this Opinion, and in a word, to con
demn it, not only as falſe, but alſo as Heretical; continually
making an Hipocritical Zeal for Religion their Shield; going a
bout moreover to intereſt the Sacred Scriptures in the Diſpute,
and to make them in a certain ſenſe Miniſters of their deceiptful
purpoſes: and farthermore deſiring, if I miſtake not, contrary to
the intention of them, and of the Holy Fathers to extend (that I
may not ſay abuſe) their Authority, ſo as that even in Concluſions
meerly Natural, and not de Fide, they would have us altogether
ſeek to throw upon me, I have thought it neceſſary for my juſti
fication before the World (of whoſe judgment in matters of
Religion and Reputation I ought to make great eſteem) to
diſcourſe concerning thoſe Particulars, which theſe men produce
to ſcandalize and ſubvert this Opinion, and in a word, to con
demn it, not only as falſe, but alſo as Heretical; continually
making an Hipocritical Zeal for Religion their Shield; going a
bout moreover to intereſt the Sacred Scriptures in the Diſpute,
and to make them in a certain ſenſe Miniſters of their deceiptful
purpoſes: and farthermore deſiring, if I miſtake not, contrary to
the intention of them, and of the Holy Fathers to extend (that I
may not ſay abuſe) their Authority, ſo as that even in Concluſions
meerly Natural, and not de Fide, they would have us altogether